With fish getting seemingly bigger with every year that passes, it becomes no real surprise that British Records are falling all the time and just recently, the British Record Fish Committee (BRFC) ratified three new additions to that prestigious list. Here is what they concluded from their latest meeting on 23rd June 2025:
Barbel (Barbus barbus), caught by James Crosby on 30th November 2024 from King’s Weir fishery on the River Lea and ratified at a weight of 22lb exactly. James’s capture is a great example of grabbing an unexpected opportunity. James was only able to go fishing as the result of a last-minute cancelled social engagement and he made the most of ideal fishing conditions to bank his new British record barbel.
THE BEST BARBEL RODS ARE PERFECT FOR TARGETING SPECIMEN FISH LIKE THIS ONE!
Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) – shore-caught – by Michael Johnson on 25th February 2025 from Salcombe estuary, South Devon. Mike’s fish takes the vacant slot for a shore-caught halibut and the weight was ratified at 6lb and 12 drams. Mike also holds the shore-caught thornback ray record, also taken from Salcombe, in 2008, so he joins a very small number of anglers who hold two British records concurrently.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GO SEA FISHING, TRY ONE OF THESE EXCELLENT MARKS.
Tope (Galeorhinus galeus) – shore-caught – by Gareth Griffiths on 12th May 2025 from Stackpole Quay in Pembrokeshire and ratified at 86lb 13oz. This was angling guide Gareth’s fourth tope of over 70lb and topped a day when he also caught tope of 51lb and 56lb.
YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT HOW GARETH BANKED THE HUGE TOPE IN THIS ARTICLE.
Captors of potential record fish should contact the Secretary, Nick Simmonds, at the Angling Trust, on 01568 620447 or by email at brfc@anglingtrust.net. The official British Records List and procedures are available on the Angling Trust website or from the Secretary.
Nick will record the details of the capture and advise the claimant on progressing the claim. More information about what to do if you catch a record fish can be found in the BRFC web pages.